Chapter 4 Left

I was already at the international airport two hours later. I was going to step into the boarding area when Zach's mother texted me.

"Is it okay if we meet up for a meal, Queenie?"

I typed and deleted my text over and over. It took me a long moment of hesitation, but I agreed to her request.

The marriage's cancellation was already set in stone. Our parents deserved to know. After all, his mother was always cordial with me when we were dating.

Then, I came to the room and realized this meal was a trap lying in wait. Zach had his arm around Daisy, and they took up the main spot. I was delegated to the spot where my job was to pass them the salt.

"Queenie, you made it!" Melinda got up from her seat to welcome me, but her son scoffed derisively.

"You worry too much, Mom. Told you she'd never leave me. She loves me too much. You didn't have to set up this apology meal."

Melinda coughed, and she looked awkward. Zach pretended not to notice that. He picked up the menu and tossed it over to me.

"Make your order, princess. I'm telling you. I don't want to be here. My mom made me come."

My lips thinned. His eyes used to be the very thing that captivated me, but now I had lost all interest in them.

The old Zach used to make all the orders and set up the food beautifully. He would ask me if something was wrong with the food or if the AC was too weak if I showed even a hint of displeasure.

Now, all that affection was poured into the one I thought was my best friend instead.

"Thanks, Mrs. Lawson, but I'll have to decline. I've broken up with Zach," I enunciated.

That changed the look on everyone's face.

Zach had a look of panic for a moment, only for it to be replaced by disdain. "Daisy's right. You do want me to offer more gifts. All those Internet lists got into your head. You thought you could push me around just because you threw a tantrum? As if!"

Daisy looked at me as if she was feeling conflicted. After a beat, she shook her head in fake innocence. "I never said so, Queenie. I'm sorry."

She got up and approached me. Then, she grabbed my hand and smacked her cheek with it. "Slap me if it would make you feel better. Please, don't cancel the wedding. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone shopping with Zach."

I pulled back as fast and hard as I could. Yet, she fell to the ground as though an invisible force had pushed her. Her back crashed into the wooden chair. Shortly after, her shrill scream tore through the air.

"My back! I think I broke my back!"

That whipped Zach into a frenzy. He scrambled over, scooped her up, and ran right to the hospital. Before he left, he snarled at me. "You've gone too far! Push me, and I'm going to skip the wedding altogether!"

I shook my head in resignation. Then, I slung my bag over my shoulder and bowed to Melinda one final time. "Thank you for all you've done for the last seven years. Goodbye."

Melinda tried to say something, but she ultimately held her tongue.

Zach stayed at the hospital for five whole days just to soothe and care for the injured Daisy.

On the sixth day, a good friend of his texted, "You're still not picking her up? We're already at Queenie's place."

It was then he finally remembered he had a wedding to catch, but he answered nonchalantly, "She can wait for a bit. She deserves it for pushing Daisy around."

Zach came to my place an hour later than promised, but he didn't seem sorry in the slightest. He stood outside my house and rang the doorbell again and again. However, no one opened the door.

Frustration crept into his face soon after. He knocked on the door and shouted, "Come on already, Queenie! I'm not going to take the fall if we miss our time!"

The neighbors decided that enough was enough. So, they stuck their heads out the door and barked in annoyance, "Stop that ruckus already. There's no one in that house. The girl and her parents had moved out five days ago."

The news hit Zach like a boulder.

He was trying to process it, but his assistant showed up and brought more news that piled on his mind. "Sir, this is bad! Mrs. Lawson left you at the altar!"